Discovering that a partner gave you a sexually transmitted disease — especially one they knew about and didn’t disclose — is a profound betrayal. What most people don’t know is that Texas law clearly recognizes your right to sue them. Whether it’s herpes, HPV, HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or another STD, if a partner knowingly transmitted the infection without disclosing their status, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation.

Here’s how STD transmission lawsuits work in Texas, what you need to prove, and how a Houston attorney can guide you through it confidentially.

The Legal Foundation in Texas

Texas courts have repeatedly held that knowingly transmitting an STD without disclosing your status to a sexual partner is grounds for civil liability. The legal theories typically include negligence, battery (treating non-disclosure as removing meaningful consent), fraud, and in some cases intentional infliction of emotional distress. Courts treat undisclosed STD transmission seriously — and so do juries.

What You Have to Prove

To win an STD transmission case in Texas, your attorney generally needs to establish four elements: the defendant had the STD at the time of the encounter, the defendant knew or should have known they had it, they failed to disclose it to you, and you contracted the infection from them as a result. Modern medical testing — including viral genotyping for herpes and HPV — can often link infections to a specific source with strong scientific certainty. Text messages, dating-app history, and prior medical records can fill in the rest.

Compensation Available in an STD Lawsuit

Damages in these cases can include past and future medical expenses (including lifelong treatment and medication for chronic STDs), pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, loss of intimate relationships and quality of life, and punitive damages when the defendant’s conduct was especially reckless or deliberate. Texas verdicts and settlements in STD cases have ranged from $25,000 to several million dollars depending on the disease, the impact on your health, and the strength of the evidence.

Will My Case Be Public?

This is the question almost every client asks first — and it’s a fair one. The answer is that your privacy is protected at every stage. Most STD claims in Texas resolve through confidential pre-suit settlements, meaning no lawsuit is ever filed publicly. When litigation is necessary, we routinely use Jane Doe filings, protective orders, and sealed records to keep your identity off the public docket. Settlement agreements typically include strict non-disclosure clauses binding the defendant from speaking about the case.

Time Limits You Need to Know

Texas’s statute of limitations for STD transmission claims is generally two years from the date you discovered the infection — not the date of exposure. This is critical, because many people don’t learn they’ve been infected until well after the original encounter. Even so, two years passes faster than you’d think, so reaching out early is always smarter.

When to Call a Houston STD Claims Attorney

If a partner knowingly gave you an STD and never told you, you don’t have to live with the medical, emotional, and financial consequences alone. A confidential conversation with our firm costs nothing and obligates you to nothing — but it can give you a clear picture of whether you have a case, what it might be worth, and how to protect your privacy throughout the process.

Schedule a free, confidential consultation today with attorney Farrah Martinez at Her Injury Lawyer. Your story stays yours — and your accountability is on your terms.

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